Estate planning at Ameriprise

Ameriprise brokerage accounts (including Ameriprise ONE) use a commission-based fee structure. Advisory programs like SPS Advantage, SPS Advisor, Active Portfolios, and Signature Wealth use an asset-based fee structure and include ongoing investment advice and portfolio reviews. Both account types support TOD beneficiary designations and trust retitling.

No. Ameriprise does not allow beneficiary changes by phone. You can update beneficiaries online through the Ameriprise secure site, in person with your financial advisor, or by completing and mailing the appropriate paper form. The Beneficiary Team can answer questions at 1-800-862-7919 but cannot process changes over the phone.

Ameriprise Signature Wealth is a flexible unified managed account (UMA) that combines multiple investment options and management methods into one portfolio. Launched in 2025, it offers access to more than 85 institutional investment models from leading investment providers, along with hundreds of mutual funds and ETFs. Investment minimums range from $5,000 to $50,000 depending on the selected models.

To retitle a brokerage or advisory account to your trust, you need to complete the Change of Ownership Form (Form F120) and the Trustee Certificate (Form 270209), along with an IRS Form W-9 for the trust. You also need to provide the trust document title page and signature page showing the trust name, date, trustee names, and whether trustees act alone or jointly. Form F120 cannot be used for qualified accounts like IRAs.

In community property states (Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin), spousal signature is required on beneficiary designation forms unless the spouse is named as the 100% sole primary beneficiary by name.